It just got a lot more expensive for Rudy Cecchetelli to light up his Newports. Monday, he paid a little over 5 bucks, Tuesday, he's shelling out more than $6.

"We're getting robbed on gasoline, now they hitting the cigarettes. What's going to be next," Cecchetelli asks.

It's a hike that should put a $174 million dollar dent in health care costs, but it's also putting a huge dent in the bottom line of smoke shops. David Glantz was out changing prices at Buckeye Brothers as soon as he heard the news. That's because the state will seek the extra dollar from all packs that are currently on his shelf.

"There should be a level playing field because you'd hate to see them lose tax dollars over the border, or over the internet," Glantz says.

Owner of Smokin Deals on Boston Road knows all about the internet. He's been losing customers to the computer for years.

"People buy from these places and no tax is being paid," says owner Al Alves.

The two most popular brands in New England are Marlboro and Newports. At Smokin' Deals, it's $55 and $54. Over on the internet, I found the Marlboros for $32 and the Newports for $36.

"You can't compete with that you just can't. The state is basically driving everyone out of the state," Alves says.

The stores can't keep up and the customers can't pay up. Shops and the state need you to puff away, but either way, these prices are blowing smokers away.